Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with spinal cord tumor linked to esophageal spirocercosis
By Lindsay, Nicolette et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2010·Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Imaging diagnosis--spinal cord chondrosarcoma associated with spirocercosis in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old female Boerboel cross was brought to the vet because she was limping on her left back leg, and her reflexes were abnormal. Imaging tests showed a growth in her spine and other areas, which turned out to be a type of cancer called chondrosarcoma. Unfortunately, the dog was euthanized, and a mass in her esophagus was found to be the likely source of the cancer that spread to her spine and muscles. This case highlights how a serious underlying condition can lead to significant symptoms in pets.
People also search for: dog limping · Boerboel cancer symptoms · chondrosarcoma in dogs · dog spinal cord tumor · spirocerca lupi treatment
Abstract
A 7-year-old neutered female Boerboel cross was examined for progressive left pelvic limb lameness. There was no left patellar reflex but the remaining pelvic limb reflexes were hyperreflexic. Radiographically, there was a poorly mineralized opacity occupying the intervertebral foramen at LA-L5. On computed tomography images there was a hyperattenuating intramedullary lesion at LA-L5 that continued caudally, lateralized to the left and became extramedullary, terminating at L5-L6. In addition, well marginated, hyperattenuating lesions were noted at two muscular sites. The dog underwent euthanasia and a caudal esophageal mass was found at post mortem examination. The tumors in the spinal cord, the esophagus, and the skeletal muscles were diagnosed histologically as low-grade chondrosarcoma undergoing endochondral ossification. Spirocerca lupi-induced esophageal chondrosarcoma was believed to be the primary site from which the other, presumably metastatic, lesions originated.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21158232/